Over The Counter vs Prescribed Antibiotics For Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment
Bacterial Vaginosis is an inflammation that occurs within the vagina. The inflammation of the vagina caused by bad bacteria. Many women assume that yeast infections are a common type of vaginal infection. Keep in mind however, that BV is not an infection. It can be better categorized as an inflammation caused by the overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and the Gardnerella organism.
Currently there are many antibiotics available to combat this inflammation. There are many antibiotics used to treat bacterial vaginosis, metronidazole and Clindamycin to name just 2. The downside of using antibiotics is that there is a very strong possibility that BV will reappear even after finishing the entire course of the antibiotics. As well as this if you continue to use antibiotics to treat your bacterial vaginosis the body becomes less responsive to them.
There are a few good treatments that are availlable over the counter to treat bacterial vaginosis. These treatments work in the following ways:
1. the eradication of bad or unwanted bacteria
An example of such a product would be Tea-tree oil products or FemiGel. These work on the same principle as the antibiotics mentioned above.
2. Lowering of pH level within the vagina by adding buffer/acid
A vagina with an alkaline pH level will aid the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Increasing the pH level in the vagina, will make the environment acidic and inhibit the growth of these bacteria. RepHresh is one of the products which work on this principle.
3. The addition of good bacterial lactobacillus acidophilus
Fem-dophilus is an example of a great product in this category. This is a lactobacillus product. It actually claims to maintain a healthy vagina by building up the good bacteria or lactobacillus acidophilus.
4. Addition of nutrients
The vagina has many types of bacterial present constantly. They are essential for the vagina’s well-being, and actually help by eating the bad bacteria. Without the good bacteria, the vagina would be crawling with bad bacteria, slowly destroying the vagina. By providing the good bacteria with “food” such as lactose, they can grow and produce acid. Preventing inflammation of the vagina or bacterial vaginosis is helped by a strong bacterial flora maintaning an alkaline pH level. That is how the product ladybalance works.
Although these over the counter products may seem to be the right option, many of them are not actually documented by clinical trials. In addition, self-treatment with such remedies may not actually cure Bacterial Vaginosis at all; instead it may just suppress the symptoms. if you let this occur then the chance of getting recurrent BV will increase.
As an alternative to over the counter products, consider natural cures as an option. Try to make changes to your diet and include vitamin supplements or herbal products. The use home remedy methods have been proven to be effective, and such natural treatments will leave you with reduced chances of recurrence.
Bacterial Vaginosis can bring about significant changes in a woman’s life. Fortunately, there are many ways to help improve the situation. By choosing the right treatment you can save yourself from many of the discomforts that come from Bacterial Vaginosis.
